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Shaming the Family Name

You did not become a Doctor,
Or a Lawyer,
Or an Engineer,
Or anything better
that Mother can brag about to nosy neighbours
Now, when Father talks about his children,
He somehow forgets your name.

You denied Dear Mother
the chance to give testimony at Women's Fellowship
And she's still bitter
from listening to others talk about their children
And how the Lord blessed them.

You wasted Father's money;
3 years in High School, studying Science
4 years in University, reading Engineering
Then you went and became,
an artist, a designer of glorified road signs.

Now when Father talks about you,
He shakes his head slowly,
Saying, "what sin did I commit to deserve this",
You broke your father's heart.

And it matters not
How much success you achieve,
Or how much critical acclamation you receive,
They say you shamed the family name.
But, oh, this thing called shame,
You wear it so well, Like a crown, in your own world.

You dared to sing a different tune,
You made it hard for them to love you,
You selfishly placed your happiness above your parents',
You brought shame to the family name
And that is not something people forgive.

*****March 22, 2016*****

twitter via @MhlangaKudzayi

Ghana is seriously blessed with a pool of young creatives but our parents say we should do science. Smh

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